How to Watch Naruto in Order: Every Series, Movie, and the Filler to Skip

Naruto has over 700 episodes across two series, so how to watch Naruto in order sounds daunting and mostly comes down to one thing: filler. The order itself is simple. Watch Naruto, then Naruto: Shippuden, then the canon film The Last, and continue into Boruto only if you want the next generation. It is one linear story. The catch is that roughly forty percent of both main series is filler you can skip.

That filler is the real reason people dread a Naruto marathon. The original series pads its 220 episodes heavily in the back half, and Shippuden buries around 200 filler episodes among its 500, including one long stretch late in the run. None of it moves the plot, so a good filler guide turns a 720-episode mountain into a much leaner canon run.

Below we lay out the series in order, break down exactly what filler to skip, and sort the canon movies from the optional ones. We also cover where Boruto fits and where everything streams. Sort the filler once and one of the defining shonen journeys plays out at a pace that respects your time.

How to watch Naruto in order: the series

The franchise is three main TV series that run in a straight line, each picking up where the last left off. This table lays out how to watch Naruto in order across all three, with episode counts and what each covers. The core story, Naruto's own, is complete by the end of Shippuden and the film that follows it.

For a first watch, go in release order: Naruto, then Shippuden, then the canon movie The Last, with Boruto as an optional extra afterward. That covers how to watch Naruto in order for the complete main story. Naruto and Shippuden together run 720 episodes, but skipping the filler cuts that to roughly 430, the version most fans recommend for a first run.

The filler problem: what to skip

The real time savings hide in the filler. Both Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden are close to forty percent filler, the anime-only episodes studios added to avoid overtaking the manga. In the original series, the canon story runs strong through roughly episode 135, then a long filler block fills much of the way to the finale. In Shippuden, the filler comes in large arcs, with one especially long stretch in the back half.

Most of it is safe to skip, and a good guide makes the ranges obvious. Our Naruto filler list and Naruto Shippuden filler list mark every episode, which is really the key to how to watch Naruto in order without the padding. A few filler arcs are worth keeping, though, like Kakashi's Anbu backstory and the Itachi Shinden arc, which add real depth. And do not skip the closing episodes of either series, since they send the story off properly even where they drift from the manga.

The movies and Boruto: what counts as canon

Naruto has around eleven films, and most are non-canon side stories you can watch any time or skip. Only two are canon. The Last: Naruto the Movie is the important one, set after Shippuden episode 479, and it delivers the Naruto and Hinata story that leads into the next generation. Boruto: Naruto the Movie is also canon, though the Boruto series covers the same events, so you can watch either. Road to Ninja is a fun optional pick if you want more.

As for Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, it is a full sequel about Naruto's son and the new generation of ninja. Its first part ran 293 episodes before going on hiatus in 2023, and the story now continues in the Two Blue Vortex manga. Boruto is entirely optional, since Naruto's own arc wraps up in Shippuden, but it is the natural next step if you want to keep going. It has filler of its own, mapped in our Boruto filler list.

Where to watch Naruto

Naruto is easy to find. Crunchyroll carries the original Naruto, Naruto: Shippuden, and Boruto in most regions, in both sub and dub, so the whole run lives in one place. Netflix and Hulu also host parts of the franchise in some countries, and the movies are spread across streaming and digital storefronts. Availability shifts by region, so check what is live where you are before you commit to the marathon.

Follow the ninja way from episode one

For a franchise this size, how to watch Naruto in order really comes down to two moves: watch the series in release order, Naruto then Shippuden then The Last, and lean on a filler guide to keep the pace tight. Add Boruto if you want the next generation, treat most movies as optional fun, and let Naruto's climb from outcast to legend play out the way it was meant to. Start at episode one and follow the ninja way from there.

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FAQ

How do you watch Naruto in order?

Watch Naruto in release order: the original Naruto series, then Naruto: Shippuden, then the canon film The Last, with Boruto as an optional continuation. That is the full main story in sequence. Since both series have heavy filler, most viewers use a filler guide to skip the non-canon episodes.

Can I skip the filler in Naruto?

Yes. Around forty percent of both Naruto and Shippuden is filler that does not affect the main plot, so skipping it is common and costs you nothing story-wise. A few filler arcs, like the Kakashi Anbu backstory and Itachi Shinden, are worth keeping, but the rest is safe to drop with a filler guide.

Do I need to watch the Naruto movies?

Mostly no. Most of the eleven Naruto films are non-canon side stories you can skip. Only The Last: Naruto the Movie and Boruto: Naruto the Movie are canon, with The Last being the essential one, set after Shippuden and leading into the next generation.

Should I watch Boruto?

Only if you want more. Naruto's own story is complete by the end of Shippuden and The Last, so Boruto: Naruto Next Generations is optional. It follows Naruto's son across 293 episodes, and the story continues in the Two Blue Vortex manga, so it is the natural next step for fans who are not ready to stop.

Where can I watch Naruto?

Crunchyroll streams the original Naruto, Naruto: Shippuden, and Boruto in sub and dub, and Netflix and Hulu carry parts of the franchise in some regions. The movies are spread across other platforms. Availability changes by region, so check what is streaming near you before you begin.